CANE FIELDS AND SIRUP FACTOEIES. 



seen in Sontliern Georgia. A striking illustration of the luxuriant 

 growth of the cane is given in PI. Ill, fig. 2. Captain James has a 

 large factory operated by steam. 



In addition to the cane fields the plantation of Mr. J. W. Olliff, at 

 Statesboro, was also inspected. At the time of the inspection of this 

 region the sirup canii)aign was not completed in many localities, and 

 largequantitiesof cane were still in the fields. An interesting question 

 was raised at once in regard to the effect of the severe cold then pre- 

 vailing on the cane itself. In most places tlie cane is either windrowed 

 or cut and piled in bulk and protected by the leaves and tojis. In 

 these instances the cane w^as not frozen, and there was no question in 

 regard to its preservation until the end of the manufacturing season. 

 The cutting of the cane in this way is not injurious to the i^roduct, as 

 would be the case if sugar making were practiced, since one difficulty 

 whicli attends the siruiJ industry in Georgia is the tendency of the 

 finished product to crystallize and thus decrease its value on the 

 market. Keeping the cane windrowed or in heaps for some time 

 after cutting will afford the opportunity for the inversion of a part of 

 the cane sugar, thus diminishing the tendency to crystallization in 

 the linished product without diminishing the amount of the product 

 oi- impairing its quality. 



On the 19th of November an inspection of the caius lields and fac- 

 tories in the southern part of Georgia, near the Florida line, w-as accom- 

 plished. In addition to Captain Purse, the x>art3^ included Mr. James 

 Menzies, general freight agent of the Plant System, Mr. C. B. Rob- 

 erts, and Mr. D. F. Kirkland, superintendent of the third division of 

 the Plant System. At Waycross the train was met by Mr. W. AV. 

 Sharpe, Mr. G. R. Youmans, and Mr. J. W. Greer, who urged that a 

 visit be made to the cane fields near that cit}', but the itinerary 

 already arranged would not allow a stop-over at that time. 



At Valdosta the inspecting party was welcomed by Mr. J. G. Craw- 

 ford; Mr. J. M. Wilkinson, president of the Valdosta Southern Rail- 

 road; Mr. Brantley, editor of the Valdosta Times; Mr. Will McRee, 

 Mr. William Roberts, Col. Ben Jones, and other citizens. 



At Kindcrlou an inspection w^as made of the farm and factory of 

 Mr. McRee. Here some of the best illustrations of the intensive culture 

 of sugar cane were found. An excelh^nt idea of the luxuriant char- 

 acter of the cane grown at Kinderlou is shown in PI. IV, figs. 1 and 2. 



A most interesting incident of the visit to Kinderlou was an inspec- 

 tion of one of the cassava fields on the plantation. The growth of the 

 cassava was of the most luxuriant kind, and although the leaves had 

 been frosted, it still presented a most attractive appearance, as is 

 shown in PI. V, fig. 1. 



The purple variety of cane was the one chiefly grown on ]Mr, 

 McRee's plantation. Some of the cut stalks alread}' in the mill 

 measured over 8 feet in length and AVi^ighed from 4 to G pounds. 



